Collapsible wind-spray shield



Jan. 12, 1943. c. A. RUNDQUIST 7 COLLAPSIBLE WIND-SPRAY SHIELD Filed Feb. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Jan. 12, 1943. c. A. RUNDQUIST COLLAPSIBLE WIND-SPRAY SHIELD 2' Sheets-Sheet ,2 I

Filed Feb. 25, 1941 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to shields and has for its primary object furnishing wind and water spray protection for boats and other similar vessels.

The main object of my invention is -to provide a wind and spray shield which is readily and easily attachable to the forepart of a boat, and which is also collapsible and may be folded and put away when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shield of the aforementioned character which is made of'a textile or similar flexible and foldable material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rigid stay which in conjunction with bracket means can be instantly attached to a boat, and is substantially triangular in structure when in use and may be collapsed so as to occupy the smallest space when it is desired to put away my invention, when it is not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shield of the aforementioned character which can be readily and instantly attached, and which is provided with meansto keep the said shield in a taut and tense position.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of the character aforementioned which is simple in construction, durable for the uses to which it is to be put, efficient in use and operation, and which isalso of 'such'a simple structure that it lends itself "to economical quantity production.

Other features, objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the accompanylng drawings and the ensuing description H wherein like numerals are'used to designate like parts and'in which, referring to the various views in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my invention attached to that portion of a boat where it is to serve the purpose for which it is made.

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary top plan view of a boat deck and my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 3 shows in reduced-form the approximate pattern lay-out of my invention, showing the shape which it assumes when normally laying down in a flat position.

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged fragmentary view of the tensioning means for holding my invention in a tensely adjusted position at all times when in operation.

Fig. '5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 shows a fragmentary top plan view of the boat deck [4 to which is attached one of the stays and bracket members utilized in connection with my invention.

Fig. '7 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line of Figure 8.

Fig. 8 shows an end view of the view shown in Figure 7.

Fig. 9 shows a fragmentary view of the structure of the stay which rigidly and removably connects the stay to the holding bracket.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the stay in collapsed form.

Fig. 11 indicates in partial cross-sectional form a modified form of stay with adjustable rack holding means.

Fig. 11a is a plan View of the anchoring bracket H.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I2 generally designates my invention, which is made up of a water-proof canvas or other similar foldable textile material.

My invention is comprised of four panel. members, preferably, or as many more as are found necessary or advisable when applying the structure to any particular boat. Primarily, it requires two substantially triangular portions designated l9 and two front portions designated IT. The portions I! being the front portion of the boat wherein a person would have to look thru hence, are provided with suitable isinglass windows l8, or windows made of any other suitable flexible and transparent material.

The boat is designated l3, having top ledges l5, and an opening I6 which is occupied by the operator of the boat .and such other passengers that are to be carriedalong by the boat. The side panels I9 and the front panels are provided with edging 30 folded over and suitably sewed as indicated at 3|, Figure 4, in order to reinforce the textile edges and prevent them from fraymg.

It is to be noted that the panels I 9 are provided with skirts 20 referring to Figure 5, for the purpose of folding over the ledges 15 of the boat I3 and act as a seal for the water spray which may cover this wind-shield and ultimately drip off into the lake, pond or other body of water wherein the boat may be operated. The skirt portions are folded under as indicated at 37, and are sewed together as indicated by the stitches 3 I.

The apices of the triangular portions I3 are preferably reinforced as indicated in the View, Figure 5, by folding over the material with a reinforcement 33, and then sewing it as more specifically indicated in Figures 4 and 5. so as to provide a pocket portion 36 for the spring 29; the spring being provided with an eye end 34 attached by grommet means 35 or any other suitable means. A plate 32 being inserted in a pocket portion provided for the same in order to reinforce the end of the panel l9 so that the spring 29 will effect a uniform pull and tension over the area of the triangular panel is and thus serve to keep the entire shield under tense and taut form at all times.

The other end of the spring 29 is tapered and is secured to the hook member 29 by peening the end 28. The hook member 25 is provided with a hook portion 27 for removably securing the same, and a handle portion 25 furnishing a suitable finger grip for attaching and unhooking the said spring hook 2?. An ordinary bracket 2| with a base designated 23 having a hole 22 is secured to the deck of the boat by virtue of screws 24, so that the hook ends 21 of the springs may be hooked into the opening 22 and thus serve to secure the side panels I9 of my invention.

The hooking in operation is accomplished in a very simple manner, one or two fingers as the case may indicate is placed within the opening 26 of the hook member 25, and the spring subjected to tension thus enabling the hook 2! to attach itself to the hole 22 of the bracket 2i.

The forward part of my invention is secured by, preferably, three stays generally designated 45. lhese stays are secured to the canvas or textile material by virtue of the reinforcement pieces 38 placed on the front portions of the canvas, whereas the stays are connected to the rear or inner portions of the canvas by suitable grommets 39, rivets, or any other suitable fastening means. The reinforcing pieces 38 thus serve to secure the stays 45 to the canvas material rather substantially.

Referring now to the views 7, 8, 9, and 11 wherein the stays construction 40 is more elaborately shown and indicated. In Figure '7, the stay is comprised of a U shaped channel member 41 which is somewhat out off at the top portion as at 42 in order to remove any sharp edges which might damage the cloth when folding the device.

The side portions of the channel member 4| are provided with a cut-out portion 55 as indicated in the view of Figure 10. A horizontal U shaped member is pivotably secured to the member 4| and designated 52, to which in turn is pivotably secured the member 45 which in turn is slidably secured to the member 46, which in turn is spot-welded to U shaped member 45 and by virtue of the said U shaped member 49 it is secured by the rivet or grommet 48 so as to be pivotably connected to an upper portion of the member 4|.

The member 43 is also provided with a handle portion 44 which may be spot-welded to the member 43 which is further provided with a slotted elongated opening 45 so as to furnish clearance and adjustability for the movement of the bracket 40 in open or collapsed form.

The wing-nuts 47 are threaded into the member 45 and by loosening them a quarter turn, the member 43 by virtue of the slot 45 will thence slidably operate on the member 45, the member 43 being a smaller channel than the member 53 which in turn is a smaller channel than the channel 40 so that the channels 42 and 52 will fold into the channel 4| without any difliculty as indicated in the view of Figure 10.

The channel 4i, looking at Figure 9, is provided with triangular extension 58 whereas the channel 52 is provided with triangular portions 59. When the stay 4| is opened up to triangular position, it closes the openings and 56 as indicated in Figure 9, which grip and secure it firmly to the pin 69 secured permanently to the bracket H.

The stay 40 is usually collapsed as is indicated in the view, Figure 10, and is left permanently attached to the shield as indicated in Figure 3 whence it may be rolled up rather conveniently and put in an out-of-the-way place when it is no longer in use.

The brackets H are permanently secured to the top deck of the boat as indicated in Figure 2, three of them being used in this particular application of my invention. They are secured by the screws and for more detailed construction of the brackets H reference is to be had to Figures 6, '7, 8 and 11. The bracket 52 is provided with a narrower portion from the point 14 providing the ears 53 and these are secured to the ears 5| of the member 43. They are secured in place by a rivet 50 having a head 51 and a spacer bushing 54 is utilized in order that the device may provide a suitable working fit and also relieve the rivet of being spun too tightly so as to prevent smooth operation of the joint. In like manner, the ears 12 of the member 52 are secured to the member 45 with a grommet or rivet and a spacer bushing. The cut-out portions 13 provide clearance for easy and free articulation of member 43 and 52.

The element 46 is connected to the rivet 48; the U shaped member 49 serving to effect a similar function as the spacer bushing 53 in not permitting the spinning machine to spin over the rivet 48 too tightly so as to prevent free articulation at the various points.

The thumb screws 41 are loosened one quarter turn in order to permit the member 46 to slide with the screws, carrying the screws 41 within the slot 45 when making attachment to the bracket H. The brackets H are provided with a shoe structure comprised of two flanges 66 carrying permanently secured thereto at one end a pin 69 which cooperates with the recesses 55 and 56 when closed as indicated in the Figure 9 so as to make a perfect and ideal rigid attachment of the stay to the bracket II. It is also provided with a heart shaped flange 61 better indicated in Figure 2 and Figure 6, and the bracket II also having a U shaped slot 10 and a recess 68 in order to permit the stay to be placed in the bracket H in an oblique manner when it is in the collapsed form as at I0, so that the openings 55 and 56 can be made to straddle and engage the pin 69. When member 40 is so positioned, the handle member 44 is grasped after the thumb-screws 41 have first been loosened, and opened into the U shaped recess 70 so the member 52 lies with its lower surface 15 on the inner surface 10 of the bracket, then the screws 41 may be tightened and the setting of the stay is complete.

In attaching my device to a boat, the three stays are secured in the aforementioned fashion to the brackets 'H as shown in Figure 2. After that has been done, the members 25 are grasped by the handle 26 and the hooks 21 are caused to secure to the bracket 2| whence the entire device is attached. In order to remove the device, the handles 25 are released from engagement with the brackets 23, the wing nuts 2'! are loosened so as to permit the stays 40 to be collapsed as indicated in the view Figure 10, the entire device is then closed, folded up and put away for use at a later date.

In the view Figure 11, I show a slightly modified form of the stay 40 which is comprised of a member 52, a member 4| and a member 43, except that the upper portion 60 of the member 43 is cut and beveled as at El so as to provide a sharp edge or tooth to locate within the rack teeth 64 of the rack 62 which is permanently secured to the U shaped member M by the rivets S3.

Otherwise in all other respects, the structure is exactly identical with the stay All indicated in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. The function is the same, it is attached in the same manner except that no screws have to be loosened or tightened. In this latter modification Figure 11, the member 43 is firmly held in place in the notched tooth with which it happens to be cooperating when set up, by virtue of the tensioning means which definitely and fixedly holds the stays in place, thus placing the entire unit under tension and preventing the portion or tooth 60 from becoming disengaged with the rack tooth 64 with which it happens to be in engagement.

The variation of rack teeth thus permits of some adjustability or angular positioning of the front portion 1! of the wind shield or the visor portion thereof, so that it may be adjusted for people within the boat to see thru the windows l8 most clearly anything in their path of travel.

I believe I have described rather succinctly the nature and operation of my invention, and inasmuch as it is susceptible of many modifications, alterations and improvements, I reserve the right to all such alterations, modifications and improvements coming within the scope and spirit of my invention and the purview of the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description; my invention being limited only by the subjoined claims.

Having thus described and revealed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a boat having a deck, bracket means secured to said deck, collapsible stay means provided with channel means removably secured to said bracket means, textile shield means secured to the channel means of said collapsible stay means, resilient means secured to the said shield means, and anchoring means secured to the said deck adapted to secure releasably the said resilient means.

2. A device of the character described comprising, collapsible stay means provided with channel means, textile shield means secured to the channel means of said collapsible stay means,

and resilient means secured to the said shield means, adapted to secure the said shield means releasably to a boat deck.

3. In a device of the character described, collapsible stay means having chanel means secured permanently to textile shield means, textile shield means made up of a front section having transparent flexible window means, and to side panels having secured thereto resilient attaching and tensioning means adapted to secure tensionably the said device to the deck of a boat.

4. In a device of the character described, collapsible stay means provided with anchoring means adapted to be removably secured to anchoring pin means in an open triangular form and releasable when the said stay means is collapsed, the said anchoring means engaging the said anchoring pin means when the said collapsible stay means is triangulated to open position.

5. In device or" the character described, collapsible stay means provided with anchoring means adapted to be removably secured to anchoring pin means in an open triangular form and releasable when the said stay means is collapsed, the said stay means provided with screw locking and releasing means, the said anchoring means engaging the said anchoring pin means when the said collapsible stay means is triangulated to open position.

6. In a device of the character described, collapsible stay means provided with anchoring means adapted to be releasably secured to anchoring pin means in an open triangular form and releasable when the said stay means is collapsed, the said stay means provided with adjusting means adapted to varying the magnitude of the included angles respectively, the said anchoring means engaging the said anchoring pin means when the said collapsible stay means is triangulated to open position.

7. In a device of the character described, collapsible stay means provided with anchoring means adapted to be releasably secured to anchoring pin means in anopen triangular form and releasable when the said stay means is collapsed, the said stay means provided With tooth and rack cooperating means adapted to varying the magnitude of the included angles respectively, the said anchoring means engaging the said anchoring pin means when the said collapsible stay means is triangulated to open position.

8. In a device of the character described, collapsible stay securing means, comprising bracket means adapted to be secured rigidly to the deck of a boat, the said bracket means provided with a slotted portion included between two ear portions, and anchoring pin means firmly secured to said ear portions and adapted to secure fixedly and releasably collapsible stay means, the said collapsible stay means provided with anchoring means engaging the said anchoring pin means when the said collapsible stay means is triangulated to open position.

CARL A. RUNDQUIST. 

